Brady Cook’s resilience powered No. 19 Missouri to a comeback victory over Auburn, winning 21-17 in a sold-out Homecoming game at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field on Saturday. Despite nursing an injury sustained on the first drive, Cook missed almost the entire first half and part of the third quarter before returning to lead the Tigers (6-1, 2-1) to their eighth consecutive Homecoming win. This victory also marked Mizzou’s first against Auburn (2-5, 0-4) since the 1973 Sun Bowl and secured bowl eligibility for the fifth year in a row.
Facing a 17-6 deficit, Cook re-entered the game with just 31 seconds left in the third quarter, completing a pivotal 3rd-and-10 pass to Mookie Cooper, who sprinted 78 yards to the Auburn two-yard line. This play became the longest non-scoring pass completion for Missouri in at least six decades. In the fourth quarter, Marcus Carroll scored on a short run, and Cook successfully executed a two-point conversion run to narrow Auburn’s lead to 17-14.
Both teams exchanged punts until Missouri took possession at their own five-yard line with 4:26 remaining on the clock. Cook orchestrated a 95-yard drive, highlighted by crucial conversions, including a 16-yard completion to Luther Burden III on a 4th-and-5 situation. The drive culminated in Jamal Roberts’s touchdown run from four yards out, putting Mizzou ahead for the first time with only 46 seconds left.
Auburn’s final possession ended without a score, featuring pass breakups from Daylan Carnell, Dreyden Norwood, and Tre’Vez Johnson, along with a sack from Johnny Walker Jr.
Cook completed 11 of 22 passes for 194 yards during the game. Burden III caught six passes for 49 yards, marking a milestone as he became the 12th player in Missouri history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards.
The game tied at 3-3 at halftime saw Auburn take the lead in the second half with a 47-yard touchdown pass and a recovered punt for a touchdown, extending their advantage to 17-3. Cook’s backup, Drew Pyne, had earlier helped the Tigers score a field goal to reduce the gap to 17-6 before Cook returned to lead the team to victory.
Missouri’s defense excelled, restricting Auburn to just 286 total yards and a mere 22 yards in the fourth quarter. Marvin Burks Jr. and Corey Flagg Jr. each tallied nine tackles, while Triston Newson contributed seven.
Next, Missouri faces the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, October 26, with the game set to be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN, with kickoff slated for 2:30, 3:15, or 6:30 PM.
Tickets for the Arkansas game on November 30 are still available, but season and other single-game reserved tickets have sold out. For more information and to purchase tickets, fans can call 1-800-CAT-PAWS or buy online. Stay updated on Mizzou Athletics through their official site and social media channels.